U.S. patent number 4,332,046 [Application Number 06/176,667] was granted by the patent office on 1982-06-01 for combined hammer and level.
Invention is credited to Carl W. Brandenfels, Clifford T. Foley.
United States Patent |
4,332,046 |
Foley , et al. |
June 1, 1982 |
Combined hammer and level
Abstract
The handle of a hammer has a recess at the free end and one or
more spirit levels are embedded in a plastic filler in the recess.
The spirit levels are associated with surface engaging points on
the hammer, comprising points on the striking head portion of the
hammer or on a side of the head in combination with a bottom or
side point at the free end of the handle. Spirit levels, including
a bullseye level, are provided to accomplish horizontal leveling in
two directions and also in a vertical direction. The bottom surface
of the recess is painted a contrasting color for easy viewing of
the spirit levels, and interengaging tongues and recess extensions
are provided for locking the plastic filler in its recess.
Inventors: |
Foley; Clifford T. (Yacolt,
WA), Brandenfels; Carl W. (St. Helens, OR) |
Family
ID: |
26723193 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/176,667 |
Filed: |
August 11, 1980 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
45785 |
Jun 5, 1979 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
7/146; 33/334;
7/164; D8/105; D8/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25D
1/00 (20130101); G01C 9/28 (20130101); B25F
1/00 (20130101); B29K 2995/0026 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B25D
1/00 (20060101); B25F 1/00 (20060101); G01C
9/28 (20060101); G01C 9/18 (20060101); B25F
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;7/164,143,146
;33/334,375,333 ;145/61R ;D8/81,105,107 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Parker; Roscoe V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Eckelman; Eugene M.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
045,785 filed June, 5, 1979, and now abandoned by Clifford T. Foley
for COMBINED HAMMER AND LEVEL.
Claims
Having thus described our invention, we claim:
1. A hammer construction comprising
(a) a head having a striking surface and side surfaces,
(b) a handle having opposite end portions one of which is secured
to said head and the other of which comprises a hand grip end,
(c) a recess in said hand grip end of said handle having a bottom
wall,
(d) a pair of spirit levels supported on said bottom wall of said
recess disposed at right angles to each other for determining the
plane of surfaces in a direction longitudinally of said bottom wall
and also in a direction laterally of said bottom wall,
(e) a bullseye level also supported on said bottom wall for
determining the plane of a surface in directions longitudinally and
laterally of said bottom wall as well as all directions
therebetween,
(f) and a transparent plastic filler securely embedding all of said
level means,
(g) said plastic filler being flush with the surrounding surface of
said handle whereby said plastic filler serves as a grip portion of
said handle,
(h) said pair of spirit levels and said bullseye level being
secured in place in said filler on said bottom wall,
(i) said hammer having surface engaging points specifically related
to the plane of said recess bottom wall whereby upon engaging said
surface engaging points on a surface, the plane of a surface can be
determined in said longitudinal and lateral directions and all
directions therebetween.
2. The hammer construction of claim 1 wherein said surface engaging
points on said hammer comprise a point on the striking surface of
said head and a point of said free end of said handle on the same
side of the handle as said striking surface of the head.
3. The hammer construction of claim 1 wherein said surface engaging
points on said hammer comprise a side surface of said head and a
point of said free end of said handle on the same side of the
handle as said head side surface.
4. The hammer construction of claim 1 wherein said recess means
includes a colored bottom surface coating for contrasting the
appearance of said spirit levels.
5. The hammer construction of claim 4 wherein said colored bottom
surface coating comprises a fluorescent coating.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combined
hammer and spirit levels.
Leveling devices are necessary in the making of buildings or other
construction work, and it is common practice for carpenters or
other workman to employ a leveling tool using spirit levels. In the
use of such tool, it must be picked up and laid down many times
during construction which of course is bothersome to the carpenter
and also time consuming.
Means have heretofore been proposed for placing a level on a hammer
handle so as to avoid the inconvenience of using a level as a
separate tool. A combined hammer construction of applicants'
knowledge that employs leveling means therewith is not satisfactory
first in that the leveling means is improperly placed on the hammer
whereby it may be damaged by the shock of hammering operations and
may also be damaged from exterior forces or knocked out of
adjustment. Such prior device may also interfere with the grip and
use of the hammer. In addition, such prior device is complex in
construction and is not convenient to use, whereby the use of a
hammer and leveling device as separate tools has still been the
best procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention and forming a primary objective
thereof, a combined hammer and level is provided which has the
level mounted in the handle of the hammer in a selected manner so
as not to be damaged as a result of blows of the hammer, which is
simplified and inexpensive to manufacture, which does not interfere
with the grip on the handle or use of the hammer, which cannot be
damaged or knocked out of adjustment, and which employs a novel
arrangement of spirit levels for determining the plane of surfaces
relative to the horizontal and to the vertical.
In carrying out these objectives, the hammer handle is provided
with recess means at the free end thereof, and such recess means
contains a pair of spirit levels aligned with surface engaging
points on the hammer for properly determining the plane of surfaces
relative to the horizontal and to the vertical. Said surface
engaging points may comprise the striking surface or a side of the
head of the hammer and a point at the free end of the handle. The
recess means has a clear plastic filler therein which embeds and
protects the levels and which is flush with the surrounding surface
of the handle so as to comprise a grip portion for the handle. The
bottom of the recess means is colored, preferably by fluorescent
paint, for contrasting the appearance of the spirit levels and for
viewing in the dark, and said recess means and the plastic filler
have interengaging torques and recess extensions for locking the
filler in the recess means. A bullseye level is also combined with
the pair of spirit levels for use with the latter in determining a
level in two planes.
The invention will be better understood and additional objects and
advantages will become apparent from the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the present hammer, the hammer
being shown in one of its leveling positions;
FIG. 2 is also an elevational view of the hammer but this view
shows the hammer in another of its leveling positions;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view taken on the line 3--3
of FIG. 1 and partly broken away;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line
4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing a
modified arrangement of levels, namely, the addition of a bullseye
level;
FIG. 6 is also an elevational view of the hammer of FIG. 5, this
view being taken from a position similar to FIG. 2; and
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With particular reference to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1-4,
the numeral 10 designates the head of a conventional hammer and the
numeral 12 designates, except for leveling means to be described, a
conventional handle. The head 10 includes an extension 14 having a
striking surface 14a. The head may have claw portions 16 or other
means according to the type of hammer.
According to the present invention, one side of the handle adjacent
its free end has a recess 18 which for purposes of the invention
has its rearward defining wall 18a spaced only a short distance
from the end of the handle. Although the exact depth of the recess
can vary, it is preferred that it be sufficiently deep for the
intended purpose and at the same time be sufficiently shallow so as
not to weaken this end portion of the handle. A depth of about
one-half the thickness of the handle has been found to be a good
depth.
Contained in the recess 18 are spirit levels 20 and 22 of the usual
type employing a tube containing a liquid with a bubble in it and
having centering lines for alignment of the bubble in leveling
functions. The spirit levels 20 and 22 are embedded in a clear,
tough plastic filler 24 such as a transparent polyester casting
resin which fills the recess. The levels are clearly viewable
through the filler.
The leveling means are located in the plastic in conjunction with
leveling points on the hammer so that the hammer is arranged to be
used in determining the plane of surfaces. In this regard, the
level 20 is installed so that its bubble will be centered when the
striking surface 14a of the hammer and a point 26, FIG. 1, at the
free end of the hammer on the same side as the striking surface
14a, namely, on the bottom side, are horizontally aligned. Thus, to
determine the plane of a surface with the level 20, the hammer is
placed on such surface with the points 14a and 26 in engagement
therewith. This function is shown in FIG. 1 wherein the reference
numeral 27 designates a surface to be tested. The hammer can be
placed on top of a surface for leveling as shown or of course it
can be placed up against the bottom of a surface by using the same
two contact points 14a and 26.
The spirit level 22 is disposed at right angles to the line
extending between engaging points 14a and 26 and thus is used for
testing a vertical surface by use of such two engaging points.
In addition to the striking surface 14a of the hammer head and the
point 26 on the handle comprising leveling points, a side portion
or edge of the head on the side of the hammer opposite from the
recess 18 can also serve as a leveling point. This leveling
position is shown in FIG. 2. In this latter case, the side of the
head is used in combination with a leveling point 28 at the free
end of the handle. The level 20 is also selectively located so that
its bubble is centered when the side of the hammer head which is
opposite from the recess and the handle point 28 are horizontally
aligned. The level 22 thus must be in the same lateral plane as the
level 20, and by such positioning in combination with level 20,
leveling can be accomplished simultaneously in a direction
longitudinally of the hammer and also in a direction laterally of
the hammer. The particular mounting of the two level means thus
allows the hammer to determine the plane of both horizontal or
vertical surfaces and also to level in two directions
simultaneously relative to the horizontal. Since the two level
means are in the same recess and closely adjacent, readings
therefrom are conveniently made for the two planes.
The plastic filler 24 is securely held in the recess by forward and
rearward recess extensions 30 provided in the handle which receive
tongue portions 31 of the filler. The rearward extension 30 opens
through the rear surface of the handle whereby with the rearward
end of the hammer in a mold, filler 24 can be poured in the recess
extension 30. The positive mounting of the filler prevents the
leveling means from being dislodged or getting out of
adjustment.
It is preferred that the bottom of the recess 18, and also the
front and defining edges thereof if desired, be provided with a
suitable colored coating, such as yellow, designated by the numeral
32, to provide clear viewing of the spirit levels. Such coating can
be fluorescent paint if desired for making the levels visible in
the dark.
In the construction of the leveling means from a wood handle for
example, the handle is first cut with the recess 18 as well as the
extensions 30 thereof. The recess is then provided with the
contrasting paint 32 and thereupon the spirit levels 20 and 22 are
glued in their proper positions. For precision in leveling and for
efficiency in manufacture, the recess 18 has a precisely flat
bottom surface and one made precisely parallel with a line
extending between point 28 and the engaging side surface of the
hammer head and also precisely parallel with the lateral engaging
points on the head. The levels 20 and 22 can thus be glued
initially in place by directly seating them on such bottom surface
and their relation to the hammer engaging points will not vary.
After properly anchoring the levels in place, the plastic filler 24
is installed, it being preferred that the end of the handle be
disposed in a confining mold and the filler in liquid form poured
through the rearwardmost recess extension 30 so that it will flow
into the front recess extension 30 and fill the recess 18 around
the spirit levels. After the plastic has set, it can be buffed if
necessary and otherwise finished. Such process of construction
provides easy formation and also is an efficient way of installing
the filler 24.
With reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, a bullseye level 34 can also
be embedded in the plastic 24' in a hammer handle 12'. It is
installed flat on the bottom wall 18' and in such position its
bubble will be centered when the hammer is laid flat as in FIG. 2
on a surface that is level in both longitudinal and lateral
directions relative to the hammer. Level 34 is combined in use with
levels 20' and 22' in that it gives an easy to read rough level
check so that the operator knows at a quick glance the precise
direction at which leveling should occur. The levels 20' and 22'
can then be combined with the level 34 to complete the leveling
function. Level 34 also can then be used by itself to achieve a
final fine leveling. The combination of the three levels thus
provides a fast and convenient initial level check and a fast and
convenient final level check.
The invention thus provides a combined hammer and level having a
first advantage that the level will not be damaged by blows of the
hammer. This is because of the rearward location of the leveling
means wherein the primary shock from the hammer blows is absorbed
by the carpenter's hand. The embedding of the levels within a tough
and durable plastic and the method of attaching the plastic to the
handle provides a substantially damage free leveling means and a
positive mount in the handle which will insure permanent placement
of the levels not capable of getting out of adjustment. The
leveling means by its inherent structure is likewise simplified and
inexpensive to manufacture and since the plastic filler is flush
with the surface of the hammer, it will not interfere with use of
the hammer.
It is to be understood that the forms of our invention herein shown
and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and
that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our
invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, the
concept of the invention can be used with any type of pounding tool
such as roofing hammers, ball peen hammers, hatchets, etc.
* * * * *